Index Archive

01 May 2014

Brunei adopts strict version of Sharia Islamic Law applicable to everyone Brunei has become the first Asian country to implement Sharia law, the old Islamic legal system that includes criminal punishments like amputations and whipping, on a national scale.

Sharia law existed in some capacity in Brunei, but only applied to Muslims (the country has a 70 percent Malay Muslim population.)

Now, it will apply to everyone, regardless of their religion

The first round of the country’s Sharia law will put those Who have a child out of wedlock? Fail to pray on Friday, Promote religions other than Islam before an Islamic court

Punishments include –FineJail time

From Thursday, Brunei citizens can be fined or jailed by Islamic courts

The second phase will be implemented in a year

The punishments include –Whippings and amputations for crimes including consuming alcohol and theft.

The following year, death sentences could be implemented for adultery, sodomy, or insulting the Prophet Muhammad

More severe punishments such as flogging, amputation of limbs and stoning for offences such as theft, adultery and sodomy will be introduced in phases over the next two years.